Social Commentaries

A Prophesie when Asses shall grow Elephants

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 1

Social Commentaries

1 WHen making harmful gunnes, vnfruitfull glasses,
Shall quite consume our stately Oakes to ashes:
2 When Law fils all the land with blots and dashes,
3 When land long quiet, held concealed, passes.
4 When warre and truce playes passes and repasses,
5 When Monopolies are giu'n of toyes and trashes:
6 When courtiers mar good clothes, with cuts & slashes,
7 Whe Lads shal think it free to ly with Lasses,
8 Whē clergy romes to buy, sell, none abashes,
9 Whē fowle skins are made fair with new found washes,
10 Whē prints are set on work, with Greens & Nashes,
11 When Lechers learn to stir vp Lust with lashes,
When plainnesse vanishes, vainenesse surpasses,
Some shal grow Elephants, were knowne but Asses.

✦ ✦ ✦

Book 1, Epigram 83

MLA

Harington, John. “A Prophesie when Asses shall grow Elephants.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/59/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “A Prophesie when Asses shall grow Elephants.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/59/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Sir John Harington